Sugarbeet Output Drops 8%

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/14 SNS -- Production of sugarbeets for the 2014 crop year is expected to total 30.1 million tons, down 8% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop production forecast.

Planted area is estimated at 1.16 million acres, up slightly from the June Acreage report but down 3% from last year. Harvested area is expected to total 1.14 million acres, up 1% from the previous estimate but down 1% from 2013. Expected yield is forecast 26.4 tons per acre, a decrease of 2.0 tons from last year.

Sugarbeet Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2013 and
Forecasted August 1, 2014
[Relates to year of intended harvest in all States except California]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :    Area harvested     :    Yield per acre     :      Production
     State     :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
               :   2013    :   2014    :   2013    :   2014    :   2013    :   2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :  --- 1,000 acres ---      ----- tons -----       --- 1,000 tons ---
               :
California 1/ .:     24.3        24.5      44.4        44.6        1,079       1,093
Colorado ......:     25.7        29.1      33.5        30.6          861         890
Idaho .........:    174.0       169.0      36.2        36.0        6,299       6,084
Michigan ......:    153.0       150.0      26.2        26.5        4,009       3,975
Minnesota .....:    426.0       430.0      26.0        22.0       11,076       9,460
Montana .......:     42.8        44.5      29.2        32.6        1,250       1,451
Nebraska ......:     44.2        46.0      29.7        27.0        1,313       1,242
North Dakota ..:    225.0       211.0      25.3        23.0        5,693       4,853
Oregon ........:      9.3         6.5      38.4        35.5          357         231
Wyoming .......:     29.7        30.1      29.5        28.0          876         843
               :
United States .:  1,154.0     1,140.7      28.4        26.4       32,813      30,122
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Relates to year of intended harvest for fall planted beets in central California
   and to year of planting for overwintered beets in central and southern California.